Parasitic folds with wrong vergence: How pre-existing geometrical asymmetries can be inherited during multilayer buckle folding

Parasitic folds are typical structures in geological multilayer folds; they are characterized by a small wavelength and are situated within folds with larger wavelength. Parasitic folds exhibit a characteristic asymmetry (or vergence) reflecting their structural relationship to the larger-scale fold. Here we investigate if a pre-existing geometrical asymmetry (e.g., from sedimentary structures or folds from a previous tectonic event) can be inherited during buckle folding to form parasitic folds with wrong vergence. We conduct 2D finite-element simulations of multilayer folding using Newtonian materials. The applied model setup comprises a thin layer exhibiting the pre-existing geometrical asymmetry sandwiched between two thicker layers, all intercalated with a lower-viscosity matrix and subjected to layer-parallel shortening. When the two outer thick layers buckle and amplify, two processes work against the asymmetry: layer-perpendicular flattening between the two thick layers and the rotational component of flexural flow folding. Both processes promote de-amplification and unfolding of the pre-existing asymmetry. We discuss how the efficiency of de-amplification is controlled by the larger-scale fold amplification and conclude that pre-existing asymmetries that are open and/or exhibit low amplitude are prone to de-amplification and may disappear during buckling of the multilayer system. Large-amplitude and/or tight to isoclinal folds may be inherited and develop type 3 fold interference patterns.     

Hydroelastic response of a very large floating structure over a variable bottom topography

An influence of sea-bottom topography on the hydroelastic response of a Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) is considered. When the floating structure is constructed near the shore, the sea-bottom topographical effect should be considered. In this study, the effect of sea-bottom topography is investigated for four different bottom cases. To calculate the sea-bottom effects rigorously, the finite-element method based on the variational formulation is used in the fluid domain. The pontoon-type floating structure is modeled as the Kirchhoff plate. The mode superposition method is adopted for the hydroelastic behavior of the floating structure.     

Palaeomagnetic distortion modelling and possible recovery by inversion

A robust finite-element technique is presented for computation of both the internal demagnetization effects and magnetic terrain effects in bodies with arbitrary shape and arbitrary susceptibility distribution. This method facilitates a flexible analysis of the palaeomagnetic deflection problem. Tests on geologically realistic settings of highly magnetic rocks demonstrate that deflections of several degrees may occur even for relatively simple two-dimensional models. Similarly, the magnetic intensity may well be biased by 5-15% by demagnetization effects. The present paper focuses on deflections and intensity variations inside the magnetized body, where we find a systematic shallowing of inclination for bodies with a horizontal elongation. Because the bodies sampled at a typical palaeomagnetic site will have a dominant direction of elongation, the magnetic deflection effect will tend to impose a systematic bias which doesn’t average out. An inversion-based procedure for elimination of the deflection effect is presented. It requires that the magnetic body is quite homogeneous and that its surface geometry is known, as may be the case for historical lava flows. Tests demonstrate that in order to recover both ambient palaeofield direction and the effective susceptibility at blocking temperature it is necessary to sample near strong topographic elements in the magnetic body. Since the surface geometry rarely is known it is proposed as an alternative to inversion that an effective susceptibility is assessed and a horizontal slab correction is applied for samples taken far from topographical features. When shape geometry is unknown and no correction applied, palaeomagnetic conclusions must take into account the possible bias from internal demagnetization and magnetic terrain effects.     

利用共轭梯度算法的电阻率三维有限元正演

引入对称超松弛预条件共轭梯度(SSOR PCG)迭代算法求解电阻率三维有限元计算形成的大型线性方程组，并有机结合系数矩阵的稀疏存储模式，使得三维有限元正演计算的速度大大提高而内存需求则大大减少. 该算法可方便地应用于求三维异常电位，在保持快速计算的基础上，正演计算的精度显著提高.     

Magnetotelluric responses of three-dimensional conductive and magnetic anisotropic anomalies

A magnetotelluric finite-element modelling algorithm is developed, which is capable of handling three-dimensional conductive and magnetic anisotropic anomalies. Different from earlier three-dimensional magnetotelluric anisotropic modelling methods, the algorithm we presented has taken the magnetic anisotropy into consideration. The variational equations are produced by the Galerkin method and the governing equations are solved using a hexahedral vector edge finite-element method. The accuracy of this algorithm is firstly validated by comparing its solutions with the results of finite-difference method for a three-dimensional conductive arbitrary anisotropic model, and then validated by comparing with analytical solutions for a one-dimensional magnetic model. The responses of four kinds of models under different conditions are studied, and some conclusions are obtained. It shows that for materials with a high magnetic permeability, its influence on magnetotelluric responses cannot be ignored in some circumstances. Especially, if the magnetic susceptibility is exceptionally high, it may really distort the apparent resistivities of lower resistive anomalies. These conclusions are also beneficial for magnetotelluric survey.     

Rupture Property of the 1927Gulang Ms8.0 Earthquake and Numerical Simulation of Rupture Mechanism1

The 1927 Gulang M_S8.0 earthquake is a severe earthquake that followed the Haiyuan M_S8.5 earthquake of 1920 in the Qilian Mt._Hexi Corridor earthquake zone. There are divergences of opinion in the previous studies about the rupture properties of the earthquake. Based on trenching and field investigation, and analysis of historical data, we hold that the earthquake resulted from the joint process of the Tianqiaogou_Huangyangchuan fault, Dongqingding segment of the Huangcheng_Shuangta fault and the Wuwei_Tianzhu buried fault, which constitute the Gulang nappe. By finite_element numerical simulation on the deformation mechanism of Gulang nappe, it is found that the stress and strain mainly concentrate in the western segment of the Tianqiaogou_Huangyangchuan fault, the Dongqingding segment of the Huangcheng_Shuangta fault, and the Gulangxia segment of the Wuwei_Tianzhu buried fault and the Gulang_Shuangta fault. The stress concentration coincides with the distribution of the earthquake surface rupture. It also proves that the earthquake is an outcome of the Gulang nappe activity as a whole.     

Influence of non-linear effects upon surge elevations along the west coast of Britain

A two-dimensional vertically integrated hydrodynamic finite-element model of the west coast of Britain is used to examine the response of the region to extreme meteorological forcing. The extent to which tide–surge interaction modifies the computed surge elevation and current distributions is examined in detail. The nature of the finite-element model with its ability to refine the mesh in nearshore regions is ideal for examining the influence of non-linear effects upon surges in these regions. Calculations using spatially uniform orthogonal wind stresses show that the surge elevation and current in shallow water are particularly sensitive to the method used to remove the tide as a result of the highly non-linear nature of the tide–surge interaction in these regions. The most accurate means of de-tiding the solution is by subtracting a tide derived by harmonic analysis of the tide and surge time series at the time of the surge. Subtracting a tide-only solution (the usual approach) leads to tidal energy leaking into the surge solution. Calculations show that this arises because the surge modifies the tidal amplitude and phase in shallow-water regions to such an extent that they are appreciably different to those found in the tide-only calculation. Results suggest that this problem becomes more important, as nearshore meshes are refined in an attempt to improve surge prediction. This suggests that in the future, highly accurate fine-mesh models will be required to compute total water levels without the present linear separation into tidal and surge signal used in operational surge prediction.     

Rock-soil slope stability analysis by two-phase random media and finite elements

To investigate the strong random nature of the geometric interfaces between soil and rock, a rock-soil slope is considered as a two-phase random medium. A nonlinear translation of a Gaussian field is utilized to simulate the two-phase random media, such that the soil(or rock) volume fraction and the inclination of the soil layer can be examined. The finite element method with random media incorporated as the material properties is used to determine the factor of safety of the rock-soil slope. Monte-Carlo simulations are used to estimate the statistical characteristics of the factor of safety. The failure mode of the rock-soil slope is examined by observing the maximum principal plastic strain at incipient slope failure. It is found that the critical surface of a rock-soil slope is fairly irregular, and it significantly differs from that of a pure soil slope. The factor of safety is sensitive to the soil volume faction, but it is predictable. The average factor of safety could be well predicted by the weighted harmonic average between the strength of soil and rock; the prediction model is practical and simple. Parametric studies on the inclination of the soil layer demonstrate that the most instable scenario occurs when the slope angle is consistent with the inclination of the soil layer.     

Two dimensional fluid flow models at two gas hydrate sites offshore southwestern Taiwan

Fluid migration patterns are important for understanding gas hydrate and hydrocarbon systems. However, conducting experiments on or below the seafloor is difficult because crustal fluid flow rates are usually very slow, so long term observations are needed. Temperature can be used as a good tracer for studying fluid flows. Temperatures derived from bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) might help to understand fluid migration patterns in shallow marine sediments. In this study, we studied 2D fluid flow patterns in two potential gas hydrate provinces offshore southwestern Taiwan: the Yung-An Ridge in the active margin and Formosa Ridge in the passive margin. We used 2D bathymetry, average seafloor temperatures and regional geothermal gradients measured by thermal probes, as constraints to construct 2D theoretical conductive temperature fields using finite element methods. We then compared the BSR-based temperature with the theoretical conductive temperature field. The results show a temperature discrepancy attributed to advective heat transfer due to fluid migration. For the Yung-An Ridge, the BSR-based temperatures are about 2 °C higher than the model: Especially in (1) near a fault zone, (2) under the eastern flank where there are strong seismic reflectors in a pseudo-3D seismic dataset, and (3) near a fissure zone. For the Formosa Ridge, our results showed a distinct decrease in temperatures around the southern peak of the ridge, where an active gas plume was found. BSR-based temperatures predict on average 2 °C lower than the model. At these two sites, the shallow temperature fields are strongly affected by 2D bathymetry. However, new insights regarding fluid flow patterns can be obtained using this model approach.     

A general approach to model interfaces using existing soil constitutive models application to hypoplasticity

The modelling of interfaces is important for the holistic simulation of geotechnical structures (e.g. piles, tunnels and geogrids). For this reason, advanced constitutive interface models and numerical techniques are needed. There are few user-friendly models, and these are rarely implemented. In this paper, a new approach for advanced interface models is proposed. This is based on the assumption that the fully rough interface can be modelled considering simple-shear behaviour at the interface. A 3D soil model is used as a constitutive driver for a frictional subroutine. This minimises the effort required, and advanced interface models are available with less effort. Two different hypoplastic models are used with the new approach. The approach was verified for several aspects (e.g. mesh size dependence), and the volumetric behaviour was studied. The user-friendliness and absence of additional parameters led to more realistic simulation results. The proposed method can be extended to other modelling techniques and will improve the modelling of contacts in soil-structure interaction analysis.